There isn’t a division in the NFL with a better group of quarterbacks right now than the AFC West, which is pretty incredible considering the Las Vegas Raiders have been rolling Geno Smith out game after game in 2025.
With Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and 2-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes currently sidelined with a torn ACL, the Week 18 game between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers will be front and center with 2 of the NFL’s elite young quarterbacks facing off with Bo Nix and Justin Herbert.
On one side, Nix has won more regular games (23) than any quarterback in NFL history through his first 2 seasons, won his first AFC West Division title this year and his team is playing for a No. 1 seed.
On the other side, Herbert doesn’t have an AFC West title through his first 6 seasons … but is 3-0 against Nix. In another crazy twist, both quarterbacks played at the University of Oregon. Both were also first round picks.
The debate over which quarterback is better — and the extenuating circumstances around their successes and failures — is one of the more hotly contested debates you’ll find online these days.
Fans Getting Heated Over Nix vs. Herbert Debate
For Nix fans, they point to the results. The Broncos hadn’t been in the playoffs since 2015 but have now made it in the first 2 seasons with Nix as the starter. He’s also shown a knack for delivering in the clutch, with Denver’s 11 one-score wins setting an NFL record this season.
For Herbert fans, they point to his success despite having very little in terms of a supporting cast around him. This is the third time in 6 seasons as a starter that Herbert has led the Chargers to the playoffs and first time doing it in 2 consecutive seasons.
“Broncos fans are trying to make a debate out of Justin Herbert and Bo Nix?” Guilty as Charged podcast host Steven Haglund wrote on X. “The Chargers would be a 4 win team right now with Nix at QB. Please stay in your lane.”
“Chargers fans lost the division title again and their first thought was to cry on here and post Bo Nix hasn’t beat Chargers stat,” Broncos fan Nix for Six wrote on X. “We all know what that means.”
“Herbert has 19 GAME-WINNING DRIVES since entering the league in 2020, with FOUR against the Broncos… so I get the frustration from Denver fans,” The Carbonaro Effect’s Russell Arch wrote on X. “But Bo Nix has played behind a top 3 pass-blocking OL in both seasons… and is still 0-3 against Herbert.”
Nix Could Get Paid Like Herbert Soon Enough
One material thing Herbert does have over Nix? Money. Lots of it.
Herbert, 27 years old, signed a 5-year, $262.5 million contract extension in July 2023 which pays him $52.5 million per year. The Chargers could very well choose to re-do that deal following next season to make sure he stays one of the Top 10 highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL.
Nix, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, is playing on a 4-year, $18.6 million rookie contract. There’s a good chance the Broncos try and work out a contract extension with Nix following next season that could make him one of the highest paid players in NFL history — a deal that could pay him around $60 million per year.
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